Does rice cultivation in Iran and all over the world cause the production of methane gas and destroy the ozone layer?
As you know, one of the most destructive gases that destroys the ozone layer is methane gas (CH4). About 60% of the total methane gas is related to human activity. The most methane gas emissions are from rice fields. Paddy fields are responsible for nearly a quarter of human resource methane gas production. Decomposing bacteria in the stagnant water of rice fields (especially in South and Southeast Asia and the Far East) are the main cause of methane gas production. Other activities that cause an increase in methane gas include animal husbandry, burning of straw and coal, burning and agricultural waste water. Since the number of livestock increases by 5% and the amount of agricultural land increases by 7%, the annual share of these resources is increasing every year. Because the rate of decomposition of methane gas by bacteria is slower than its production rate. Ruminant animals speed up the production of methane gas by digesting food and excreting it. They are in the atmosphere. And it causes the ozone layer to be destroyed sooner.
You are right about the emission of methane. However methane doesn’t destroy the ozone layer. Methane is a strong greenhouse gas, though.
Henrik Rasmus Andersen
Master of Environmental Chemistry, Doctor of Pharmacy, Professor at the Technical University of Denmark
Denmark
Greetings and respect. Thank you for your reply. Thank you
Yes, growing rice produces methane, a greenhouse gas more than 30 times as potent as carbon dioxide. Methane is also a potent greenhouse gas, meaning it affects climate change by contributing to increased warming and The reaction of ozone with methane produces carbon dioxide and water vapor. Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) have been identified as the main cause of the destruction to the ozone layer, but there are also compounds containing bromine, other halogen compounds and also nitrogen oxides which cause damage.
Dear Abbas
I agree with Henrik. Methane does not directly participate to ozone layer destruction. But methane is a strong greenhouse gas. However, indirectly it could contribute through climate change.
Climate change can influence the size of the ozone hole indirectly by affecting the temperature and dynamics of the stratosphere, where ozone depletion occurs. The cooling of the stratosphere due to increasing greenhouse gas concentrations can enhance certain chemical reactions that contribute to ozone depletion.
-Polar Vortex: The size of the ozone hole is strongly influenced by the polar vortex, a large-scale circulation pattern that forms in the stratosphere during the polar winter. Within the polar vortex, temperatures drop significantly, creating conditions that facilitate the chemical reactions responsible for ozone depletion. Climate change can affect the strength and stability of the polar vortex, which in turn can influence the size and duration of the ozone hole.
-Feedback Loops: Changes in atmospheric circulation patterns and temperature gradients due to climate change can lead to feedback loops that further enhance ozone depletion in polar regions. For example, changes in atmospheric circulation can affect the transport of ozone-depleting substances and ozone-depleted air masses, exacerbating ozone loss in the polar regions.
In summary, while climate change can indirectly influence the size of the ozone hole by affecting stratospheric temperatures and atmospheric circulation patterns, the primary cause of ozone depletion and the expansion of the ozone hole in polar regions is the release of ozone-depleting substances by human activities. These references could help you.
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